Monday, 21 December 2009

It first Started off with Eamon McCrossan's Passing out parade, we were all so very proud if him. It was a lovely day and ended with a meal at the Royal Phoenix in Oswaldtwistle, the meal was great.

Friday was our first Christmas Day, as many of you know we have 2 Christmas Day's every year, one with Ewan's Family (usual in Ireland) and one with mine here in Oswaldtwistle.

This year we had Eamon, Mum and Dad and Mini Egg (Erin) all at our house for a fantastic weekend.

Topped off by a smashing party at Dawn and JJ's house. I missed last years party, so this year I took Mini Egg and we had a right giggle. Dawn and JJ are such good hosts, they looked after us so well.

Now then, I was looking at Tim's Blog and guess what...... well as many of you know I LOVE all the distress inks and have all the CURRENT colours....... well 12 new colours are going to be launched new year. This is what they look like.

My first purchase will be the Crushed Olive green I think. Just one problem - I have the Distress Ink metal holder, and I can't fit any more in, DOH!!!!!!!

After spending a day working at the Dawn Bibby Design Studio on Saturday you would think I was going to give myself a break today, well no such luck.

First it was Christmas shopping, then ironing, then sat at the computer typing card instructions for magazine articles!

It has just been non stop since I came back from Ireland.

I have a really busy week at work lined up too, I am launching a 2010 calendar for my safety scheme, using hand drawn images from School Children in Blackburn with Darwen, so a launch party on Tuesday and still needs lots of organising!

Anyway back to cards, here are some cards that I have been selling this year, I have to say not many people have managed to order from me as I have been so busy, just my Nana, and a few work colleagues who have been on bended knee for a few sets. I don't know.

Anyway I only have 3 packs of 5 left, so I think I'm gonna use these for some of my dear crafting friends...............

I have some nice designs to share with you soon, so keep your eyes peeled this week.

Wednesday, 9 December 2009

Sorry I have been AWOL for the past week, but this time of year seems to be non stop!

Here are are a few snaps from my workshop last weekend, we did have some fun as well as getting down to the very serious business of making 7 cards.

In between scoffing Ewan's Chocolate Brownies and Dorothy's delicious Carrot cake, we did manage the do the job in hand and learn some new techniques and have a play with new Bo Bunny Papers and Hero Arts Stamps......

As modled by the Lovely Margret, my beautiful new scarf handmade by Dee Pilling, I love it!

I've got a really busy week ahead too, not only is it Eamon's Passing out parade on the 17th December, but then we will have Ewan's Mum, Dad, Brother & one of his sisters Erin coming down to stay with us!

On top of that I still need to do some Christmas Shopping, visit Nana and Granddad, See Uncle Chris and Aunt Babs plug work full time and decorate the living room.......... I just don't know where I am.

Anyway hope your all working hard on your Christmas cards, I know I am - tonight I need to finish off an order for my Nana!

Wednesday, 25 November 2009

After designing Christmas Cards for workshops, residential weekends and Magazine Articles, you would have thought that I would be sick of them........ but no I have really enjoyed designing my own Christmas Cards for this year.

Here is one of the designs.

It's using Penny Black's Fantasy tree stamp as the focal image, stamped using Mellow Moss ink and textured card from Stampin Up! The background is Hero Arts Holly Swirl design block, again using Mello Moss Ink and card, the patterned paper is from Making Memories, red bazzil punched using Stampin Up's scalloped edger punch, and finally a touch of green satin ribbon from my collection.

I will be uploading the video of this card on to you tube some stage this week.

Monday, 23 November 2009

I went back to work today for a rest, after the hectic but fun weekend residential with Dawn and the team.It was just great, we had a ball and I am sure everyone who attended had a great time too?

Working the weekend after a busy week in my “real” with the NHS can sometimes be hard and very tiring, but working with a nice bunch of people makes it a joy! Although the rest of Dawn's Team worked flat out all week to help get things preped and organised before the weekend!

I was working alongside the lovely Amy Shaw (Dawn’s Niece wwwsimplicityinscrapping.blogspot.com) on Saturday which I thoroughly enjoyed and next to Gill and the fabulous Lindsay Mason on Sunday!

Always a pleasure to meet up with the delicious Paula Pascual, any opportunity to have a chin wag and swap crafting tips and Ideas!!!

This is the card I designed for the technique day on Sunday, using my favourite Hero Art’s Stamps.

Mixed with Nestabilities Labels 8 to make the card base and paper matt.Products available at the Dawn Bibby Design Studio, or check out the “Personal Impressions” website for stockists near you!

I met some really great people during the weekend, Julie Hickey who designs for Craftwork Cards, was one of the tutors for the weekend, and guess who else turned up and did a bit of crafting with us……………… Craig Rowe, presenter from QVC and his lovely friend Angel joined us and had a lovely time.

As well as new friends like Melanie Marsh, Tina, Nicola, Miriam and Hilli, I was so happy to see many familiar faces too, Sylvie and Amanda, Sue Brown x 2, and many, many more……

Now then on to some great news for me I have just had my very first article published in Making Cards Magazine, December 2009 issue.The cards in the article I designed quite a while ago now, but they are really lovely yet so simple to make.Please look out for some really beautiful designs soon to be published in the next edition of Making Cards.

I haven’t forgotten about some blog candy, I will get photos and blog again later tonight.

Also later this week I am going to run a Ink Pad Tutorial, (my suggestions and preferences) so if your new to stamping or just wanted some hints and tips about certain types or brands of ink pads, check out later.If you have any questions please leave a comment on here and I will add to my tutorial.

Friday, 13 November 2009

Just back from holiday had a lovely time and had a fab birthday, Ewan treated me to a Pandora bracelet with 4 beads, I really love the Mariano class beads.

Ewan's Mum, Carol trimmed the house with girly pink balloons and banners and we had Chocolate Cake!!!

On Monday evening last week we payed a visit to Mary McAnally who lives just outside St Johnstone, (Co. Donegal Ireland) and has a nice cuppa and a show round her beautiful and FULL craft room, what a nice lady!

Back to work and back to planning this Sunday's workshop.

I have really enjoyed using some vintage style Christmas papers from the new Making Memory's Christmas line, it's so cute with tiny little birds, also a fab new stamp from Hero Arts Holly Swirls Design Block (of course one of my classes would not be complete without the obligatory Hero Arts stamp now would it???)

Also in my class is a little triple embossing, Nestabilities and lots of fun and cake!

Will post a photo or two later today.

Also if there are any blogging peeps over in the Donegal area of Eire I am planning to do a two day workshop at the St Johnstone Resource Centre early spring 2010, at this stage it is only in the planning, but please drop me a line if you would like to register interest. More details comming soon....

Sunday, 1 November 2009

Well I have been passed this on from Lindsay Mason, I will pass on to 5 other blogger and tell you 5 interesting faces about me! (although I am not the most interesting person in the world)

1. I was taught to play Tennis by non other than Fred Perry himself and attended his 80th (or was is 70th) birthday party as his guest in Berlin!

2. I have lived in Germany and Cyprus as a child, and only moved to England when I was 13 years old, while I lived in Berlin I attended a School trip to witness the Wall coming down !!!

3. I was first introduced into card making in 2004 by mother-in-law Carol McCrossan.

4. I played Badminton for Lancashire as a teenager and attended trials for the England under 21 team, but did not make it!

5. I was in the Army Cadets and was the best markswoman in 1996 for Lancashire again under 21's!

All rather boring stuff I know, but hey all true!

Now for passing them on......1. Jan Bloomfield - PI2. Mandy Carter, a great friend of mine3. EilyMcCrossan, one of my sisters in-Law4.Est http://crafti-n-est.blogspot.com/5. My darling Ewan, he always make me smile!

Here are some of the photos from my demo day yesterday at the DB design studio.

We had a great day, I was working with the new Christmas Cuttlebug embossing folders and the New Christmas collections from Craftworkcards.

I was set next to the fantastic and very talented Jane, who was working with the Melt pot, UTEE and Crafty Individuals stamps, right behind me was the lovey Lindsay Mason, who was up to her usual "tricks" with Ranger Inks, and some of Tim's new stamps.

Jane

UTEE

Lindsay Mason some of the Lovely Lindsay's samples.................... yum yum!!

Also on our table was the fabulous Jo who was working with some clear stamps, Stamp and Bond and gilding flakes.

It was so lovely to meet a few of you and have a good old natter for a change.

Anyway better get a move on, we are on holiday from tomorrow and will be with Ewan's Mum and Dad in Ireland for a week (not even packed yet) and I have a magazine article deadline to meet for first thing tomorrow too - eck!

About Me

I'm married Ewan and Mummy to our beautiful little boy Rowan, we live in Lancashire in the North of England. I work for Lancashire Care Foundation Trust, as a Business Manager, however in my spare time I am a freelance demonstrator for various companies and teach monthly craft workshops in stores through-out the north west England, Scotland and Ireland.
You can also see my work published monthly in Making Cards Magazine!
I am on the Design Team for Indigo Blu and Craft Work Cards and I am the Signature Designer for Samuel Taylor's Technique Boutique.